Contents

History

Through the 1960's the Scout Handbooks typically contained language like this from the 1968 Edition, p. 228:

"The early steps put you on the road-but it is only after you take step after step that you can expect to reach the goal that Scouting is aiming for."

"That's why you should strive to become a First Class Scout at the earliest possible moment."

The earliest possible moment to earn First Class that the Scout was to strive for was 3 months: [2]

Tenderfoot - 0 months

Second Class - 1 month

First Class - 2 months

Effective September 1, 1972, the Scout Handbook removed Camping as an Eagle Required Merit Badge. For the only time in the history of the Boy Scouts, Eagle required 24 merit badge. The council now reviewed Eagle Projects for the first time. Scouts no longer needed to be able to swim to earn First Class or even Eagle. Uniforms became optional. Pages 87-89 show the extended time as: [3]

Tenderfoot - 2 months

Second Class - 3 months

First Class - 3 months

The 1976 Handbook continued to declare the uniform to be optional (p.14) and the 8-month time-frame for First Class. [4]

Today

Since the 1960's, the expectation for earning First Class has gone from 3 months to 12 months. At the same time, the requirements have also been expanded.

Scout Award: The Scout Award did not exist in the 1960's. [5] Today's Scout Award contains the same essential requriements as the Tenderfoot Rank did in the 1960's. [6]

Tenderfoot: Today's Tenderfoot Rank has added requirements for physical fitness, camping, cooking, and first aid in addition to the 1960's requirements.

Second Class: In the 1960's, Second Class had no requirements for camping or swimming. Today, Second Class requires participation in at least 5 activities outside of meetings as well as 2 campouts. Basic swimming skills and expanded first aid skills have also been added.

First Class: Today's requirements double the the 1960's swimming requirements. Specific strokes are now required. Today's First Class camping requirement is 50% more than the 1960's requirement. In addition First Class now requires participation in at least 10 activities outside of meetings.

While the expected time to earn First Class has increased from 3 to 12 months, the requirements have also been expanded. Also since 2001, the requirements for almost every merit badge have been increased. Camping merit badge is now required again for Eagle and Swimming merit badge is now an option.

On to Eagle

"It is important that the troop committee and the Scoutmaster set an advancement goal for the year. A basic goal should be for each Scout to advance a rank during the year. New Scouts should earn their First Class rank during their first year in the troop. By doing so, these new Scouts become net contributors to the troop and are able to care for themselves and others."

First Class - 1 year (Age 12)

Star - 1 year (Age 13)

Life - 1 year (Age 14)

Eagle - 1 year (Age 15)

Throught he 1960's, the Boy Scouts stated,
"The average age at which Scouts attain Eagle is 14."[7][8]